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The Butler Column and Its Response

By K.C. Johnson

A few weeks ago, the Chronicle?s Kristin Butler penned a column that opened with the arresting line, ?It seems anyone can get a college degree these days?especially if they go to North Carolina Central University.? Given Crystal Mangum?s personal history of accusing people of crimes that never occurred, drug and alcohol abuse, hospitalization for mental difficulties, and participation in the sex trade, Butler wondered how the false accuser did not seem to have violated NCCU?s honor code. Butler also recalled the remarkable case of Solomon Burnette?NCCU Class of 2007?a convicted felon who had robbed two Duke students at gunpoint, and who penned a spring 2007 column seeming to advocate vigilante justice against (white) Duke students. If Butler had more space, she might also have mentioned Chan Hall, the former NCCU student government leader who informed Newsweek that he wanted to see the Duke students prosecuted ?whether it happened or not...continue to full post

Full post as published by Durham-in-Wonderland on June 09, 2008 (boomark / email).